Psychedelic Empire State Building

Since moving into this apartment in February, we have loved keeping an eye on the Empire State Building to see how it is lit up each night. In all fairness, it's not really a task, since we can see it from our dinner table! But we like to keep track of when it will be lit up nicely and for what reason. You can see how it has been lit for the last year and how it will be lit in the coming months by checking the Empire State Building website, so I do that often. They light it up in all sorts of colors for all sorts of things - holidays, sporting events, various causes, etc. My favorite up until now has either been when it was orange and blue (for the Mets, but in my head it was for the Gators!), or when it was red and pink (our wedding colors) for Valentine's Day.

However, this past Monday night we saw probably the fanciest lighting scheme of all: "psychedelic tie-dye!" Well, as tie-dye as you can make a building, anyway. It was in honor of the New York Historical Society's Benefit for Grateful Dead Exhibition and Archive, apparently. Each side was lit with three different colors: the north side was purple, orange and yellow; the west side was green, purple and red; the south was yellow, red and blue; and the east was orange, blue and green. From our place, we are able to see both the north and west sides, so we got a pretty good effect! Check it out:

The Empire State Building adding a splash of color to our nighttime view!

Closer shot - so fancy!

In other (but related) news, did I ever mention that we resigned our lease for another year from February? So, we have this apartment until February 2011. And thanks to Eric's negotiating, our rent even went down a little bit! Go Eric! Have you ever heard of people paying less rent the longer they live in New York? I haven't! Needless to say, I'm glad that so long as we're in New York, we'll have this view to admire during dinner every night. Love it.

My Baby Husband

I must admit, this post has been in the works since Eric went to Florida for the weekend when Toni was having surgery. I've just been too lazy to make it happen. But I'm ready now!

I really haven't seen that many pictures of Eric as a baby. I've seen a few, and up until recently, this was my most favorite of all I had seen:


Awwww. It IS awfully adorable. I shared this with you last Christmas - this is the W. kids in 1987, complete with totally creepy (and possibly drunk) Santa. LOVE.

But, when Eric went home to visit this recent time, he did some more looking through pictures, and Gramz was kind enough to let Eric bring a whole bunch of them back for me to see. That is, for me to see and absolutely die over. Did you know that my husband was quite possibly the cutest little kid ever? I kid you not. Let's enjoy a blast from the W. past, shall we?

Awwww, BABIES! This is Gramz holding Ronnie and Baby Eric. Did you know that Ronnie and Eric were both born in 1982? Ronnie was born in late January, and Eric on the first of December. Now, I've never actually birthed a child nor have I had to handle a newborn day in and day out, but I would imagine that having two babies in one calendar year has earned Toni some sort of major award. Maybe a Nobel Peace Prize or a Heisman trophy or something. Seriously. Also, I love Gramz in this picture. I think this picture shows how she and Toni look alike. Also, it makes me think of a picture I have of baby me on my Nana's lap, which is one of my favorite pictures of Nana. Grandmas must have really good laps.

Ah! We've added another baby to the mix! Welcome to the pictures, baby Kelley! Aren't they all just darling?

HA! Oh, Eric, what a face! Eric is a goofball, Kelley looks so sweet, and Ronnie is just really enjoying his finger puppets. Good times.

Love this one of the W. kids with their Grandpa. Grandpa passed away not long after Eric and I started dating. I know the kids loved him a lot and I'm glad I got to meet him before he passed.

All dressed up! Look how adorable! The little suits, Kelley's little dress, the whole bit. Eric is even smiling that smile of his that I love - the one where he is really smiling, not just posing for the picture. Love it.

Oh, another precious Christmas picture! I especially like that Eric is already sporting his orange and blue. So cute.

Oh boy. This is where I started to die. I know I'm posting these out of order, but OMG LOOK AT BABY ERIC. Look at the chubby cheeks. Look at that adorable smile. Look at the little rubberband wrists. I think my ovaries just skipped a beat.

And then there's this. Oh my. The rubberband wrists are prominently displayed once again, complete with cute little fist. And the smushed face into his mother's shoulder? I might actually cry, it's so sweet.

I loved seeing all these pictures of my husband as a little kid. I think he was adorable, and so were his siblings. But this last one....oh, my word. This one takes the cake in my book. It is my new most favorite picture of my husband. It is so darling, I realize that I actually won't mind - in fact, I might even prefer - if my future children look nothing like me, and only look like their father. I think I actually squealed with joy when Eric pulled this one out. Because, SO. CUTE. Just look for yourself:

He looks like such a little gentleman! I love this picture so much, I even find his Yankees shirt cute, and I mean...it's the Yankees. Ick. But even the Yankees are oh, so precious in this situation.

Because I am unemployed and have a lot of time on my hands, I decided to do the crazy psycho girlfriend thing and take the above picture of Eric and merge it with a picture of me at about the same age to see what our future children may look like. Ha! I need a job. Anyway, I used this picture of me, when I was almost three years old:


So, according to MorphThing.com, the above two pictures of Baby Eric and Baby Meghan merge together to create this future Baby W.:


Hmmm. Not too bad, no? Sure, the hair and ears are a little sketchy. But it looks like the internet thinks our future child will inherit Eric's lips and my eyes, which isn't bad. Altogether not a hideous mash-up, but I still won't be sad if my future baby* looks just like this guy:


Oh, be still my heart.

*To my mom (and anyone else who might get the wrong idea) - In no way is this post trying to hint that I am expecting. Nobody is pregnant in this household. This is all just internet fun. Please enjoy this post accordingly.

A Sure Sign of Winter

The seasons are changing, my friends. We are no longer just starting out with fall - we are right smack in the middle of it. Already. When did that happen? That means each day brings us closer and closer to winter, which brings on mixed feelings, I must admit. On the one hand, I am really looking forward to Christmas and all the great things that come with it in this city: the decorations, the trees, the lights, the holiday markets, the shows, the general festivity. There's just nothing like New York at Christmas. But then I think of the months and months of cold that continue after Christmas....oh, I just can't let myself think about it or we'll be living in the Cayman Islands by January.

As the seasons continue to change (and the temperatures continue to drop), we're starting to keep our eyes peeled for signs of winter and the holidays. And the first sign - which I remember as one of the very first signs last year, as well - is already here: the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink. It is up and open for business! Also, those palm trees that lined the Promenade there all summer long have been replaced with pine trees. Soon they'll be joined by angels and it will be full-on Christmas. We've also caught sight of workers starting to string Christmas lights in trees around town. These people mean business!

Prometheus looks out over the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center

Pine trees line the Promenade

Another shot of the rink, with the lit-up trees visible behind the flags

So, are we ready? Here we go, another winter and another holiday season!

Side note: This post must seem very out of place to you folks in Florida, as word on the street is that you all are still having beastly hot weather these days. I just can't even imagine that! Need a break from the heat? Feel free to visit!

What We've Been Up To

I feel like I've kind of been slacking on my blogging the past couple of weeks. I think I'm just trying to find my stride now that our crazy summer (which provided SO MUCH blogging material) has slowed down and now we're back to regular life. We still have been doing lots of fun things, though! Care to hear (and see) what we've been up to for the past couple of weeks?

Last week I was sick with a cold, but I got over it. Eric took great care of me as always.

Once I felt better, I decorated our apartment for Halloween.

Halloween tree (in silhouette) and Happy Halloween stickers on our window

Adorable little pumpkin!

(We actually have more Halloween/Fall decorations than pictured above, but you get the idea.)

I have been trying to get out of the house with Achilles as much as possible before it gets too cold for him to spend any length of time outside (or for me, for that matter). So, we've been spending some time in Central Park which he loves (he loves the grass) and at the dog park. One day we even went to the dog park during a wind advisory. That was not advisable. It was actually rather unpleasant.

Achilles in Central Park

VIDEO: Achilles enjoying the grass in Central Park

Eric has been seeing some great stuff in the Rockefeller Center area. He saw some big cranberry setup courtesy of Ocean Spray, including a cranberry bog manned by real cranberry farmers. His favorite feature of this event was the free samples of craisins and cranberry juice. He also caught an acoustic performance by Jimmy Fallon at the NBC store one morning, and last night as he was passing through he caught sight of Mel Gibson. (Eric is such a good celebrity-sighter! He has also seen Dustin Hoffman and Stephen Colbert in the last week or so.)

Cranberries in Rockefeller Center

Jimmy Fallon at the NBC store

Mel Gibson on the street, just south of Rockefeller Center

On Friday night I had dinner with some other Sigma Phi Lambda alums (that was the Christian sorority I was a member of in college) who also live in New York. Three other girls showed up and we had a great time. It's nice to make new friends!

This weekend we did a lot of shopping because we have been invited to a Gala for the American Skin Association at the Plaza Hotel later this month! So, I need a formal dress, hence the shopping. That will be very exciting.

Also, on Saturday, we went to Gin Mill, a local bar that hosts the Gotham Gators alumni club, to watch the Florida v. LSU game. I was super worried about my boyfriend, Tim Tebow, and the Gators for this one, but they pulled out the win. Go Gators!

With Eric at Gin Mill

Yesterday, my friend Amanda and I did some more celebrity stalking. Eric and I had seen signs on Sunday that said Sex and the City would be filming not far from our apartment on Monday, so Amanda and I decided to go scope it out. We managed to see Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie) going back and forth from her trailer to the Empire Hotel (where they were filming) a couple times, and once she was walking with Mario Cantone (Anthony). We then stopped for some Starbucks and Mario Cantone was in line in front of us! Then, we were just wandering around a bit more, and we saw Willie Garson (Standford) just hanging out on the street, and we got a picture with him! Very successful celebrity stalking, I must say.

Great signage for celebrity stalkers like us!

Sarah Jessica Parker, Mario Cantone, and a security guard!

Amanda, Willie Garson, and me!

So the bottom line is, we've been having fun the past couple of weeks: celeb sightings, Central Park, shopping, friends, Gator football. What more could you want?

Happy Birthday, Toni!

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday! Wish we could be there to celebrate with her. We were spoiled last year when we were able to be at her early surprise party - that was great! But, we're certainly thinking of her today, even though we can't be there.

Happy birthday, Toni! Hope you have a great day. Love you!

Bon Voyage, Heather!

Early tomorrow morning, my sister is leaving for Los Angeles to start the next chapter in her professional life. As I mentioned, she has signed a contract as a singer on Princess Cruise Lines, and tomorrow is the big day that it all begins. Today was her last day at Busch Gardens, and she tells me that her friends came out in abundance to cheer her on for her last performance. After five years, it's hard to believe that chapter of her life is coming to a close.

My baby sister - she may have grown up, but she's always been beautiful!

This new opportunity is so incredible. I'm so excited for her (and jealous!) that I can hardly stand it. She sent me a sample itinerary, which includes places like Rome, Naples, Athens, Istanbul, Greece, Cairo, Florence, Cannes, Barcelona, Morocco, Brazil, and Barbados. And that is only a SAMPLING of the places she will visit! Can you believe that? I'm totally moving in with her. Peace out, Eric! (Okay, not really.) Plus, in addition to all those cool things to see, she has all the amenities and fun of a cruise ship at her disposal. Plus, when she does have to drag herself away from the fun and sightseeing to work, she'll be doing something that she loves. Just amazing.

Heather's new home for the next six months!

Even though I am just beside myself with excitement for her, I'm also a little sad. I can't believe I'm not going to see her for six months. I know, I know...I moved away first, so I should be used to this. But I just can't even imagine going home to visit and not having her be there. Not at Christmas in Florida, not in Cleveland, not at Thanksgiving, not even any visits to New York for her. No Heather for six months. I think that will be the longest I have ever gone without seeing my sister since the day she was born.

Meeting my sister for the first time (1985)

Baby me admiring baby Heather (1985)

Heather is a wonderful sister, and my best friend. She has been there for me through thick and thin. I appreciate her so much in my life. I know, I'm being a little melodramatic. It's only six months, and it's great for her. We'll still be able to talk and email and send letters. It even seems silly to be sad that we'll be in different parts of the world, when for so many years we've been in different parts of the country. But hey, I can't explain it. When she leaves, I'll miss her even more than I already do now. It makes me think back and chuckle about when we first moved to Florida, and we got our own rooms for the first time - we used Walkie-Talkies to talk to each other at night through the wall between us, because it just seemed like we were too far apart for comfort. Things have changed now...but only in that email and cell phones will have to replace those Walkie-Talkies!

Laying with baby Heather (1985)

Reading to my sister (1985)

Because I'm feeling nostalgic, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pictures of Heather and me from our childhood, and even more recently as we've grown up. She's just awesome.

Enjoying some Ohio sunshine (1986)

With our hair in curlers for church! (1988)

On Easter Sunday (1990)

Ready for our ballet recital (1990)

At Heather's high school graduation (2003)

At my apartment in Gainesville (2003)

Working together at Steak 'N Shake - she has a much better job now! (2004)

Ringing in the New Year together in Florida (2007-08)

Heather, I wish you all the best as you embark on this adventure. You deserve nothing but success, happiness, love, and all the great things this world has to offer. I hope you enjoy every moment of the next six months. I can't wait to see pictures and hear all about everything you see and do. I'm your biggest fan and I'll be cheering you on from afar - you're already a star in my book! Safe travels! Love you!

1991

Fun with Friends

So, I mentioned in my last post how busy Eric has been lately. I'll tell you what, it hasn't slowed down this week at all. On Wednesday night, for example, he didn't get home from work until 3:00 in the morning! Can you believe it? That's outrageous.

So basically, I have been sans husband this whole week. I have been so thankful to have my friend Amanda in town, because we've been doing all sorts of fun things in Eric's absence. On Tuesday night, we went to a free concert and showing of "The Wizard of Oz" in Central Park. The concert featured a lot of the "Wizard of Oz" songs, performed by Julianne Hough (from "Dancing with the Stars") and Jennifer Hudson. It was a great concert! Man, that Jennifer Hudson sure can belt it out. Then, of course, the movie was great fun. I just love outdoor movies, especially because everyone gets so into it. Like, everyone cheered when Toto escaped from Mrs. Gulch's basket, and the Wicked Witch melting was met with thunderous applause. I just love that, it makes it so much more fun! The only downside was the chilly weather - Amanda and I were bundled up in sweaters and under blankets, but it still was pretty cold. I've been fighting off a cold ever since!

The screen for the movie showing

The stage for the concert

Bundled up and ready for the show to begin!

Julianne Hough

Jennifer Hudson

Movie time!

On Wednesday night, Amanda and I met up again for a Southeastern Conference Happy Hour. It was great to get together for drinks with other southern folk who love college football as much as we do! I met some nice people and had a great time hanging out with Amanda and some of her friends.

With Amanda at the SEC Happy Hour

It has just been so nice to have Amanda in town. I'll be bummed when her contract is up (she's a travel nurse) and she leaves in a couple months! I forgot how much fun it is to have girl friends to hang out with. But, hopefully some of the people I am meeting as she and I hit the town together will turn into lasting friends as well.

A couple of entertaining stories (well, at least to me) from Wednesday night...first was a new pickup line I had the pleasure of hearing. As a psychology major in college, I got my fair share of "oh, are you analyzing me right now?" type lines, but this one was a first. This guy, upon hearing that I studied psychology, said to me, "oh, that's PERFECT! I've been meaning to find a therapist to help me deal with my recent divorce." And he was dead serious. I mean, I applaud his self-awareness and desire to deal with a major life change in a healthy way. I really do. I think making therapy mandatory for anyone affected by divorce wouldn't be a bad idea, so I am impressed with his willingness to admit his need for help. That's great. But....not so great as a pickup line on a girl in a bar. This guy was a little strange, I'll say, and he refused to believe I couldn't become his personal shrink no matter how many times I told him I am not a therapist and even if I was, I do not practice in New York. I talked to him for a while then politely excused myself and wished him the best. Hope he finds someone good to talk to!

Also, on our way home, Amanda and I saw quite possibly the most outrageous thing that I've seen since moving here. We saw a homeless man on the sidewalk, chillin' out in a recliner, WATCHING HIS LITTLE TV he had propped up on a folding chair. He was apparently stealing some electricity from a bar, with an extension cord coming out from under the door (this was late at night, so the bar was already closed). It was really a nice little setup. It just raised a lot of questions for me - where did he get these things? What does he do with them during the day? Where does he store his TV when it rains? Does he know where to go to get the best reception? Etc., etc. Oh, New York.

Now, I am resting up and trying to fight off this little bit of a cold I seem to have picked up in Central Park. Eric seems to think he should be free this weekend, which would be wonderful. The Gators have a bye week, so we might meet up with Amanda for the Georgia v. LSU game (even though she graduated from UF, she's a Georgia fan, do you believe it?). Regardless of what we do, I'm sure we'll have a great time!

Have a nice weekend, everyone!